Love at First Sight?

How many of you believe in love at first sight?  Soul mates?  Love the second, third or even fourth time around?  Yeah, me either.  Until the other day when some crazy, amazing thing happened; God-ordained, I believe.  I met the most incredible man.  Yes, I can scarcely believe it myself!

So this concept is totally foreign to me; someone who not only cares for me but is a giver in every sense of the word!  He is not only sweet, kind and gentle but he loves my MIND!! To me, that is the greatest compliment of all.  That not only is there a physical attraction but a mental one --and to me, that is far more sensual than anything I could have imagined!

We have met at an incredible time in my life.  Yes, it is a good time because I am finally comfortable in my own skin.  I am confident.  Most importantly, I understand and know that in order to love others you have to love yourself.  What is it the Bible says?  In Luke 27, Jesus answers a question about love with a parable about the good Samaritan.  Starting with verse 25, it says this:

"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

These verses demonstrate that you have to love yourself before you can love others.  Major, in my book and clearly in God's.  But then Jesus continues to speak of love.


²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Now, as Christians, we need to show God's love.  Whether it is a romantic relationship or an acquaintance, we need to allow God's love to work in us and through us.  Faith is also an important part of our sharing God's love.  In Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul addresses this...

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

When reading this passage, this is what speaks to my heart...Christ gives us so much love that we, His vessels, cannot contain it all.  We are not only filled to capacity with His love but to overflowing.  And so, we need to take that abundance of love we've been given and share it.  Whether it be with the silver-haired gentleman with killer blue eyes or a homeless person.  We need to share God's love with others.

So, do I believe in love at first sight?  Do you?  And in the scheme of things, does it matter?  I think the bigger take-away is that we need to share the love of Christ with others.  Let them see how far, how wide and how deep His love is by giving it away without any expectations .  Be an example of what it means to love others as ourselves. 

I hope you will allow this song to touch your heart as you listen to how we can be a living example of His word.  I think it pretty much speaks to the topic at hand.

"Let Them See You" by JJ Weeks Band
http://youtu.be/uOg-1JjAdGk